Nursery & Pre-School

From September 2026, we will be expanding our Nursery and Pre-School provision at Oaklands School to give families more choice and flexibility.

Families can choose from 3, 4 or 5 days per week, with care available from 8.30am to 5.00pm. You can also choose the number of weeks that best suit your family from the options below:

• 34 weeks term time only
• 38 weeks term time plus 4 additional weeks
• 42 weeks term time plus 8 additional weeks
• 46 weeks term time plus 12 additional weeks
• 50 weeks term time plus 16 additional weeks

In addition, children will be welcome to start with us from the day they turn 2, rather than the term in which they turn 3.

This new and enhanced offer will provide reliable, year-round childcare within the well-established school education setting with our well-qualified staff and subject specialists.

The Nursery and Pre-School nurtures the children’s desire to learn, experiment, play and gain independence. Our curriculum is designed to develop each child’s emotional, social, physical and creative skills. We encourage children to learn freely in a structured and stimulating environment. They are taught to listen to others and express their own ideas, and we place high emphasis on kindness, helpfulness, sharing, courtesy and respect for others.

The Early Years team builds your child’s love of learning through play, talk, exploration, and clear routines. We help children grow in confidence and independence, and we teach them to listen, share ideas, and show kindness and respect. Our outdoor spaces give children daily chances to move, explore, and play on all weather surfaces, playgrounds, and our adventure area.

The area is led by Mrs Potts, Head of Early Years, who ensures that staff consistently demonstrate high expectations of children both in terms of behaviour and learning.

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Nursery & Pre-School at a glance:

Estimate Nursery & Pre-School Fees Calculator

Childcare fees and funding can be difficult to work through, so our Nursery Fees Calculator is here to help.

Answer a few simple questions about your chosen days, weeks and funded hours to receive an estimated monthly fee.

Please note that this is only a guide. Our admissions team can confirm your final fees and talk you through the options available.

Use the Nursery & Pre-School Fees Calculator

• Families may choose from 3, 4 or 5 days per week.
• Fees include provision from 8.30am until 5pm including mid-morning snack, lunch and tea.
• Fees are stretched across 12 equal monthly payments and are billed in advance by Direct Debit.
• Fees for our 34 week provision will be invoiced equally over three terms.
• No VAT is applicable to Nursery & Pre-School fees.
• Please note that the level of funding for 2 year olds is higher than for 3 and 4 year olds.

*Level of funding to be confirmed by the Local Authority

Enquire about Fees and Funding

Early Years School Life

Our Nursery and Pre-School runs from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, for 50 weeks of the year – breaking for two weeks over Christmas. Families will be able to book a minimum of three days each week to help children settle quickly and build secure routines.

Reception follows the pattern of the normal school day, which begins at 8.30am and ends at 3pm, five days a week during school term times.

We provide a mid-morning snack and a nourishing lunch is freshly prepared and cooked on site by the Lodestone House catering team. The children develop their social skills as they eat together. Use of cutlery and tasting the wide range of healthy food provided is encouraged and our staff help the children to cut up their food. Children in the Nursery and Pre-School will be provided with a cooked tea from around 4.15pm each afternoon.

Most groups spend the afternoons participating in creative activities designed to develop their imagination, curiosity and knowledge of the world around them. There are various after school clubs for our Reception children.

Sample Menu to illustrate the range of meals and snacks offered

Early Years Learning and Teaching

All the children in the Early Years Department follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS).  There are seven areas of learning which include three prime and four specific areas:-

Prime Areas:

• Communication & Language
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development

Specific Areas:

• Mathematics
• Literacy
• Expressive Arts and Design
• Understanding the World

In both Nursery and Preschool, classes of pre-reading, writing and number activities are taught and the children are helped to discover and investigate through art, craft and environmental activities.

Specialist teaching in a number of areas greatly enhances the curriculum. We use the seven curriculum areas to shape our planning and we enrich the children’s experiences through a range of other activities including weekly Dance, Music and PE lessons together with assemblies, performances, trips and outings. All children participate in Wild Woods sessions in our own woodland area.

Wraparound care from 7.30am to 6pm

We offer wraparound care to support working families, with provision available from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Children can start the day in a calm, welcoming setting before the school day begins, and they can stay beyond their ‘core’ times for supervised play, activities and light snacks.

This gives you greater flexibility for dropping off and picking up, with your child benefitting from familiar routines and staff across the day.

Breakfast Club

Tea Time Club

Enquire about wraparound Care

Nursery refurbishment

These images show an artistic rendering of how our Nursery and Pre-School spaces will look after refurbishment.